Tango

I have the Sit N Stroll car seat/stroller. We LOVE it! We actually just used it going to Disney World, so we didn't have to rent one in the parks and we felt our daughter was safe when we had to get in a cab, etc.

We also love it in airports, because you don't have to make a baby walk through the airport. You just wheel up to the plane and use it as a car seat in the plane too. Also, if you have older children, it is easier to have them get in and out. I do find it hard to get it in and out of the car when my daugher is in the seat.

It does cost around $200 but I think we've already gotten our money's worth out of it. Safety = peace of mind!

Here is one link I found, but I am sure there are others: http://www.strollerdepot.com/moreinf...y=sitereferral

kaudrey

GoTravel - you asked when car seats became mandatory.

These are state laws, so the "when" varies, and car seats are not required by all states. However, car seats/booster seats are required in many states, for children anywhere from "under 3" to "under 8".

To see the rules in each state, see http://www.inventiveparent.com/state-laws.htm.

I used to sit in front with the seatbelt as a kid. One time, I unbuckled myself, and mom got cut off by someone running a red light. I still, 35 years later, have a scar on my scalp.

Karen

Suerich68

Nina,

You'd better watch out. The "nasty police" are on patrol today.

liza

I vote for the carseat/stroller combo.

I had my first child when living in NYC and I certainly did use a carseat in taxis, I just carried him in it and strapped him in. Never was an issue.

bgans

Drummer0002 - How old is your child? If they are still small enough to use the infant bucket, that can be installed in a cab quickly and easily and most can be used without a base.

If you are talking about an older infant (over 6 mos) or a toddler, I stopped using cabs and only used public transportation or walked places(I live in NYC). You will not be able to use a car seat on a public bus (there is no where to attach it), but I would put my daughter in a sling (Playtex Hip Hammock) and keep her strapped to my body on busses and subways. This worked until she was almost 2 years old and could sit in a taxi seat by herself with her own seatbelt.

Whatever you do, DO NOT strap your child into a seatbelt with you - if there is an accident, you will crush your child.

This is a common issue for those of us who live in big cities with good public transportation and often without cars of our own. Have a great visit.

kswl

"And for everyone who says, "We rode around standing in the front seat, riding in pick up truck beds, etc. and we lived to tell about it." consider that you'll never hear from those who didn't live to tell about it, because they didn't live. Progress is a good thing . . ."

jlm, you are so right! I hear crusty, unhappy older people say, "Well, I didn't have (fill in the blank with Nintendo, indoor plumbing, computers, etc) and look at me." Sometimes I yearn to respond, "I'm looking, I'm looking!"

Tango

Britney Spears said the same thing last night...that she road around on her dad's lap. We all did, however, thank goodness, laws are now in place to keep our kids safer.

I will never forget going to the funeral of a 6-year old I had to go to when I was in High School. He had been asleep in the back of his parent's station wagon when they had an accident. He was thrown from the car and killed.

I would never consider putting my child in a car without the right car seat!

MonicaRichards

In California, I think the carseat laws are stricter than in NYC. I know in San Jose cabs are not ALLOWED to take a child without a carseat. So you might run into the situation in SF where the cab won't take an unrestrained child under 6. Public transport is the way to go.

kswl

Tango, I saw a brief clip of the Brittney Spears interview on msn. The gum, the 800-word vocabulary, the way she looked so intently at Matt Lauer as if trying to decipher his words . . . she came across as a bright chimp.

lizziea06

Her rampant misuse of air quotes was one of the more hilarious things I've seen in a while, and Matt Lauer deserves some kind of award for keeping a straight face.

I don't know where her publicist was when she started to defend the practice of driving with your baby in your lap.

moneygirl

Taxis at LAX will insist that you have a carseat... even if it is 1:00 AM and your hotel is less than a mile away. How do I know this? because it happened to me! I do think laws in CA are stricter and anyone who is traveling should find out the laws in that state. Believe me, it's worth it to know.

shaz60

If you are really worried about it, you could always rent a car for a day or two.

nytraveler

Cabs in NYC will stop and allow you to attache your own car seat (although you will pay for waiting time while you do so). The problem - as someone mentioned is how difficult it can be to do so properly - esp in a cab. The trick is to get one of those combo seats/strollers - which - yes - is a pain to tour around with.

As for other means of transport - obviously nothing is possible - so you just use whatever type of stroller you have - but keeping in mind you need to fold it on the bus and carry it up and down stairs for the subway.